Combination Slant or Cathedral Ceiling Fan or Fixture Mounting Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Mounting apparatus for fixtures and fans adapted for mounting on a slant ceiling or peak of a cathedral ceiling. Apparatus provides an enclosure for suspending an electrical box in a horizontal disposition so a fixture or fan can be suspended from the apparatus with the weight of the fixture transferred to a joist/beam. Apparatus includes a first enclosure having a bottom opening, a second enclosure adapted for attachment to the first enclosure, providing for extension of a vertical height of the mounting device, a junction box adapted for location within the bottom opening, and a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junction box, the first enclosure, and the joist/beam. The fixture hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of the fixture to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/906,524, filed Mar. 13, 2007, entitled “Combination Slant orCathedral Ceiling Fan or Fixture Mounting Apparatus,” which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is applicable to the field of enclosures formaking electrical connections for household lighting and/or ceilingfans, in particular for hanging either light fixtures or ceiling fansfrom slanted or cathedral ceilings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mounting boxes for making electrical connections from light fixtures andceiling fans to household electrical wiring are known. There are boxesdesigned for use on slanted or cathedral-style ceilings, but each sufferfrom certain limitations. Some are limited to use on ceilings that slantat a forty-five degree angle only. Some are incapable of adapting tomounting at the peak of a cathedral-style ceiling. An electricalconnection box that can be adapted for mounting on most angled ceilingsand that can also adapt to being mounted at the peak of a cathedralceiling would address most needs in one apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a ceiling mounted box apparatus that can be adapted tomount flush against the ceiling through a wide range of ceiling angles,and can be adapted for mounting at the peak of a cathedral ceiling wheretwo angled ceiling surfaces meet.

In one aspect of the invention, a mounting device for hanging an objectfrom a joist/beam of a ceiling area includes a first enclosure having abottom opening and a second enclosure adapted for attachment to thefirst enclosure, the second enclosure providing for extension of avertical height of the mounting device in relation to the verticalheight of the mounting device with the first enclosure alone. The devicealso includes a junction box adapted for communication with or locationwithin the bottom opening of the first enclosure; and a mounting plateadapted for attachment to the junction box, attachment to the firstenclosure, and attachment to the joist/beam.

The mounting plate can be located within the first and the secondenclosures when attached to the junction box and attached to the firstenclosure. The object hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of theobject to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to themounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam.The first and second enclosures can be supported, in relation to theceiling area, by attachment of the second enclosure to the firstenclosure, and by attachment of the mounting plate to the firstenclosure.

In another aspect of the invention, the first and second enclosures,when attached, together provide four upstanding walls. In this aspect,there is a first set of two opposing side walls, with each of the firstset of side walls having a top edge. The top edge of a first wall of thefirst set of side walls can be shorter in relation to the bottom of thefirst enclosure than a top edge of a second wall of the first set ofside walls. This aspect also includes a second set of two opposing sidewalls, with each of the second set of opposing side walls extendingangularly between respective top edges of each of the first set ofopposing side walls. The top edge of each of the angularly extendingsecond set of opposing side walls generally could be configured togenerally follow a pitch of the joist/beam of the ceiling area.

In a further aspect of the invention, the second enclosure would not benecessary. In this aspect, the first enclosure includes four upstandingwalls, including a first set of two opposing side walls, with each ofthe first set of side walls having a top edge and being of approximatelysimilar height. This aspect also includes a second set of two opposingside walls, with each of the second set of opposing side walls extendingangularly upward from a respective top edge of one of the first set oftwo opposing side walls to a apex point, then extending angularlydownward from the apex point to a respective top edge of the other ofthe first set of two opposing side walls. Here, the top edge of each ofthe angularly extending second side walls could generally follow acontour of a peak of a cathedral ceiling. The apex point could behorizontally centrally located, or could be offset from center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second form of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 3 adaptedfor and installed on a slanted ceiling beam;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 3 frombelow;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 frombelow;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a plumb notch in a side of themounting apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the apparatus from the rear; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus adapted for andmounted at the peak of a cathedral ceiling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a mounting apparatus for electrical fixturesand/or ceiling fans that can be adapted for mounting on a slant ceilingor at the peak of a cathedral ceiling. The apparatus provides anenclosure for suspending an electrical connection box in a horizontaldisposition such that an electrical fixture or ceiling fan can besuspended from the entire assembly with the weight of the fixture or fantransferred to a joist or beam in the ceiling. The wiring connectionsfor the fixture or fan are made within the electrical connection boxthat is suspended within the mounting enclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the elements of the mounting enclosurecan be identified and the disposition of an electrical connection boxwithin the mounting enclosure is illustrated. The electrical connectionbox may be provided separately from the mounting enclosure or it may beincluded.

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate an embodiment of the invention configuredto be mounted to a joist on a slanted ceiling. The mounting apparatus 10comprises an enclosure in two segments 20, 21 fitted together. The twosegments 20, 21 are held together by screws 38 that engage threadedchannels in long bosses 39 on the walls of the enclosure 20, 21. Amounting plate 30 can be secured to the enclosure 20, 21 by screws 32that engage bosses 33 inside the enclosure. An electrical junction box40 (FIG. 1) 41 (FIG. 3) may be suspended from the mounting plate 30 byscrews/rivets 34 that pass through holes in the lower flange of themounting plate 30 and engage channels (not shown) in the junction box40, 41.

The mounting apparatus 10 is adaptable to slanted ceilings where theslant angle is forty-five degrees or some angle more or less thanforty-five degrees. One segment 21 of the two segment enclosure 20, 21has a wall section 44 (FIGS. 2 & 4) formed in short segments that can bebroken out one at a time to accommodate the passage through theapparatus 10 of a joist that is angled at one of a number of angleswhile permitting the mounting apparatus to be suspended from the joistwith the bottom surface in a horizontal disposition.

See FIGS. 9 and 10 for exploded views of the apparatus 10 that depictthe segmented wall section 44 most clearly. There is a slot 52 providedin the long wall 54 of the enclosure 20, 21 through which the joist orbeam to which the mounting apparatus is attached passes. The size of theopening in that slot 52 is adjusted by breaking out one or more of thesegments in the segmented wall section 44 that occupies the slot 52.Changing the size of the opening permits the mounting apparatus 10 to behung from a joist/beam 50 such that the lower opening is disposed in ahorizontal (level) plane for mounting a fixture or fan.

FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment of the complete mounting apparatus 10to a joist or beam 50 that angles upward on a slant. The joist or beam50 (referred to hereafter as “beam”) rests on the lower edge 19 of onesection 20 of the two segment enclosure 20, 21. The beam 50 can rest onthe upper edge of the segmented wall section 44 or, to accommodatediffering ceiling pitch angles, one or more segments of the segmentedwall section 44 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) can be broken away to change theupper edge on which the beam 50 rests on the higher side of theenclosure 20, 21.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the mounting procedure for the completeapparatus 10 is conducted with the entire apparatus 10 assembledtogether. Affixing the ceiling junction box 41 to the mounting plate 30,then securing the mounting plate/ceiling box assembly to the enclosure20, 21 ensures that the ceiling box 41 is properly oriented with theopening in the bottom of the two segmented enclosure 20, 21. When theapparatus 10 is properly mounted on the beam 50, the ceiling box 41 willbe correctly disposed in relation to the room below.

To mount the entire apparatus 10 to a slanted ceiling, it is necessaryto determine the proper angle for the beam 50 to pass through thesegmented wall section 44 of the enclosure 20, 21. Referring again toFIG. 5, it is then necessary to ensure that the apparatus 10 suspendsthe ceiling box 41 above the room as close to horizontal as possible forproper mounting of a light fixture or fan. To accomplish this, a plumbbob 60 could be suspended from a notch 56 (see also FIG. 8) in the sidewall 62 of the enclosure 20, 21. When a plumb line 61, from which theplumb bob 60 is suspended, bisects a center of the bottom of the sidewall 62 of the enclosure, the bottom opening of the apparatus 10 (andthe ceiling box 41) is level with the floor below (not shown). Theapparatus 10 is secured in place by first hammering mounting prongs 37of the mounting plate 30 into the beam 50. These prongs 37 hold theapparatus 10 in place until nails or screws (not shown) are driven intothe beam 50 through the holes 39 in the mounting plate 30.

When suspended from the enclosure 20, 21 the ceiling junction box 40, 41preferably protrudes about ⅜ to 1/2 inch below the bottom surface of theenclosure 20, 21 such that a sheet rock ceiling panel surrounding thebox will leave a flush surface, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A fan orfixture can then be mounted to the ceiling box 40, 41. It can be seenfrom FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 that the weight of the suspended fan or fixturesuspended from the ceiling box 40, 41 is transferred through screws orstuds 34 directly to the mounting plate 30 and into the beam 50. Theenclosure 20, 21 bears only its own weight and none of the fan orfixture burden.

The same apparatus 10, modified as described herein, can be used tosuspend a ceiling junction box 40, 41 from an apex of a cathedralceiling. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the two-part (two segment)enclosure 20, 21 is separated for cathedral apex application. The uppersection 21 of the two segment enclosure 20, 21 is removed by removingscrews 38 from the bosses 39 in the side walls of the lower section 20of the two segment enclosure 20, 21. The lower section 20 of theenclosure 20, 21 then presents a peaked outer wall on two sides (asshown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11).

Referring to FIG. 11, mounting the cathedral ceiling apparatus proceedsmuch the same way as for a slant ceiling. A weighted plumb line 61 canbe suspended from the notch 56, located at the peak of the side wall ofthe lower section 20 of the enclosure. With the mounting plate 30 heldagainst the beams 50 that come together at the peak of the cathedralceiling, the apparatus is level when the plumb line 61 bisects a centerof the base of the enclosure. The mounting prongs 37 are driven into thebeams 50 to set the apparatus in place and the apparatus is then securedwith nails or screws through the holes 39 in the mounting plate 30.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A mounting device for hanging an object from a joist/beam of aceiling area, comprising: a first enclosure having a bottom opening; asecond enclosure adapted for attachment to the first enclosure, thesecond enclosure providing for extension of a vertical height of themounting device in relation to the vertical height of the mountingdevice with the first enclosure alone; a junction box adapted forcommunication with or location within the bottom opening of the firstenclosure; and a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junctionbox, attachment to the first enclosure, and attachment to thejoist/beam, wherein the mounting plate is located within the first andthe second enclosures when attached to the junction box and attached tothe first enclosure, wherein the object hangs from the joist/beam byattachment of the object to the junction box, attachment of the junctionbox to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to thejoist/beam.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and the secondenclosures are supported, in relation to the ceiling area, by attachmentof the second enclosure to the first enclosure, and by attachment of themounting plate to the first enclosure.
 3. The device of claim 1, whereinthe first and the second enclosure, when attached, together provide fourupstanding walls, comprising: a first set of two opposing side walls,wherein each of the first set of side walls has a top edge, and whereinthe top edge of a first wall of the first set of side walls is shorterin relation to the bottom of the first enclosure than a top edge of asecond wall of the first set of side walls; and a second set of twoopposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing sidewalls extends angularly between respective top edges of each of thefirst set of opposing side walls, whereby a top edge of each of theangularly extending second set of opposing side walls generally followsa pitch of the joist/beam of the ceiling area.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the first enclosure includes four upstanding walls, comprising:a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the first set ofside walls has a top edge and each is of approximately similar height; asecond set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set ofopposing side walls extends angularly upward from a respective top edgeof one of the first set of two opposing side walls to a apex point, thenextends angularly downward from the apex point to a respective top edgeof the other of the first set of two opposing side walls, whereby a topedge of each of the angularly extending second side walls generallyfollows a contour of a peak of a cathedral ceiling.
 5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the apex point is vertically aligned with the midpointof a bottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of twoopposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and themidpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge.6. The device of claim 4, wherein the apex point is other thanvertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respectiveside wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a lineconnecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would beperpendicular to the bottom edge.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein themounting plate is fixedly attached to the junction box.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the second enclosure includes a slot adapted forpassage therethrough of the joist/beam.
 9. The device of claim 8,further comprising a wall section for removable insertion within theslot, whereby the wall section can be removed for passage of thejoist/beam through the slot or can be inserted to provide a completeupstanding wall in the second enclosure.
 10. The device of claim 9,wherein the wall section is segmented and configured for removal ofindividual segments, thereby providing for an adjustable slot size. 11.The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is alignedperpendicularly to the bottom of the first enclosure when the mountingplate is attached to the junction box and to the first enclosure. 12.The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is centrally locatedwithin the first enclosure when the mounting plate is attached to thejunction box and to the first enclosure.
 13. A mounting device forhanging an object from a joist/beam of a ceiling area, comprising: afirst enclosure having a bottom opening; a second enclosure adapted forattachment to the first enclosure, the second enclosure providing forextension of a vertical height of the mounting device in relation to thevertical height of the mounting device with the first enclosure alone; ajunction box adapted for communication with or location within thebottom opening of the first enclosure; and a mounting plate adapted forattachment to the junction box, attachment to the first enclosure, andattachment to the joist/beam, wherein: the mounting plate is locatedwithin the first and the second enclosures when attached to the junctionbox and attached to the first enclosure; the object hangs from thejoist/beam by attachment of the object to the junction box, attachmentof the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of themounting plate to the joist/beam; the first and the second enclosuresare supported, in relation to the ceiling area, by attachment of thesecond enclosure to the first enclosure, and by attachment of themounting plate to the first enclosure; and the first and the secondenclosure, when attached, together provide four upstanding walls,comprising: a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of thefirst set of side walls has a top edge, and wherein the top edge of afirst wall of the first set of side walls is shorter in relation to thebottom of the first enclosure than a top edge of a second wall of thefirst set of side walls; and a second set of two opposing side walls,wherein each of the second set of opposing side walls extends angularlybetween respective top edges of each of the first set of opposing sidewalls, whereby a top edge of each of the angularly extending second setof opposing side walls generally follows a pitch of the joist/beam ofthe ceiling area.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the secondenclosure includes a slot adapted for passage therethrough of thejoist/beam.
 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a wallsection for removable insertion within the slot, whereby the wallsection can be removed for passage of the joist/beam through the slot orcan be inserted to provide a complete upstanding wall in the secondenclosure.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the wall section issegmented and configured for removal of individual segments, therebyproviding for an adjustable slot size.
 17. A mounting device for hangingan object from a joist/beam of a ceiling area, comprising: a firstenclosure having a bottom opening; a junction box adapted for adaptedfor communication with or location within the bottom opening of thefirst enclosure; and a mounting plate adapted for attachment to thejunction box, attachment to the first enclosure, and attachment to thejoist/beam, wherein the mounting plated is located within the firstenclosure when attached to the junction box and attached to the firstenclosure, wherein the object hangs from the joist/beam by attachment ofthe object to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to themounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam;wherein the first enclosure further includes: a first set of twoopposing side walls, wherein each of the first set of side walls has atop edge and each is of approximately similar height; a second set oftwo opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing sidewalls extends angularly upward from a respective top edge of one of thefirst set of two opposing side walls to a apex point, then extendsangularly downward from the apex point to a respective top edge of theother of the first set of two opposing side walls, whereby a top edge ofeach of the angularly extending second side walls generally follows acontour of a peak of a cathedral ceiling.
 18. The device of claim 17,wherein the apex point is vertically aligned with the midpoint of abottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of twoopposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and themidpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge.19. The device of claim 17, wherein the apex point is other thanvertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respectiveside wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a lineconnecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would beperpendicular to the bottom edge.
 20. The device of claim 17, whereinthe mounting plate is fixedly attached to the junction box.